Gamebook store

Friday 15 April 2016

Last of the Golden Dragons


The Eye of the Dragon didn’t start off as a gamebook. It was a scenario in my Empire of the Petal Throne campaign. The ruined city that the players had to visit was not Thalios but Ngala, out on the Flats of Tsechelnu about a hundred and fifty miles from Jakalla.

I can’t find any notes for the scenario, and that's probably because there weren’t any. Our main weekly game was held at Keble, first in Mike Polling's room and later with Jack Bramah, Robert Dale or Colin Williams hosting, and those games were on Sunday afternoons as a legacy from when we spun off from the Dungeons and Dragons Society at Jesus. I’d usually arrive to run the session after a leisurely start to the day and a long brunch, so there was rarely any preparation and we preferred it that way. For this scenario, though, I had at least drawn up a fairly detailed map of the ruins.

At a guess the game took place in late 1981 or early 1982, because it was obviously inspired by the movie Escape From New York. The players will have included Oliver Johnson, Mark Smith and Robert Dale. I doubt if there was any super-powerful ancient artefact at stake – more likely it was a routine escort mission for their temple. The twist, such as it was, lay in the fact that the players must have been anticipating trouble from an amphibious enemy such as the Hlűss or Hlutrgu, but it turned out they were up against a party of Grey Ssu. Hence all the hypnotic jiggery-pokery, and with it the seeping paranoia of never knowing whether the comrade right behind you might have already been got at. (John Carpenter movies were clearly a big influence on my umpiring style.)

For the gamebook I kept the unity of place and time, starting the adventure as you arrive at the ruins at dusk and finishing at dawn. The Grey Ssu became the Kappa – not the water-dwelling creatures of Japanese folklore, but pearl-eyed and coral-boned nonhumans whose name derived from the Greek letter, which seemed to fit with the vaguely Graeco-Roman flavour of the city.

Some nods to the scenario’s origins at Oxford can be seen in the Amber Pantechnicon (a wonky Radcliffe Camera), the crossroads of Carfax, and the talking sphinxes, inspired by the Emperors’ busts in Zuleika Dobson. For some reason the Sydney Opera House got a look-in too; maybe that was Russ’s idea.

The USP of Eye of the Dragon is that you are a sorcerer. In retrospect I could have come up with a more interesting way of handling that than the Vancean system – which is delightful in the Dying Earth stories, but doesn’t make for very interesting gameplay. In our Tekumel games at that time, magic involved the sorcerer constructing a number of mental “spell matrices”. After a spell was cast, the spell matrix became “fatigued” and you needed to spend time in meditation in order to restore it. You could still cast a spell using a fatigued matrix, but it cost twice as much energy. That would have been a better mechanic than the all-or-nothing approach I went with for the book.

Other snippets… Master Giru is based on Professor M.A.R. Barker, creator of Tekumel, to whom the book is dedicated. His player-character Firu Ba-Yeker is well known in Tekumel gaming circles. Lord Mantiss was a nod to Ian Livingstone, who often urged me to include a character called Mantis in Adventure, the role-playing game I was designing for Games Workshop – or, as it turned out, for myself – in the early ‘80s. (Years later, Ian was to return the gesture of homage by releasing his own version of The Eye of the Dragon. That's a joke by the way.)


For a while I toyed with the notion of giving the book a thorough overhaul. It could do with a bit more grit. The pally way the scholars talk to you at the start never rang true. More suspicion would have helped - and would have resonated with the pervasive distrust once you arrive at the ruins and find that so many would-be allies have been nobbled by hypnosis. I even jotted down a few notes:
The idea is that you’re different somehow. People treat you with fear, suspicion and loathing. We never say if it’s skin colour, a deformity, or what, but something marks you out as Other.

Oh, and you are a miracle worker, sorcerer, whatever. Maybe instead of being “of the Elder Race” this is more like being born a mutant.

So you’re recruited for this job. They don’t like you, but they need you.

You go and get the Eye, then at the end they ask you for it. And we end with you wondering whether to let them have it...
Another option was to rejig the book as a Fabled Lands Quest, with the action starting in Dweomer and then zipping over by means of one of those convenient dimensional portals to the vaguely Hellenic land of Atticala.

But in the end I realized that most people are buying these reprints to fill gaps in their gamebook collection. There isn’t a lot of appetite for revised versions. The Keep of the Lich-Lord was different – we had to rework that because we didn’t have the rights to the Fighting Fantasy setting. But The Eye of the Dragon is in its own universe – and it’s not Legend, at least not quite the low-fantasy Legend familiar to Dragon Warriors players, despite the reference to a place called Achtan. So in the end I changed only a couple of monster names (“dungeon devil” and “blood fiend” – must’ve been in a rush that day) but otherwise left the text unmolested.

The Eye of the Dragon is now available in paperback on Amazon:

55 comments:

  1. You would easily claim some of my money if this were a Fabled Lands Quest. Barring that, I still have my copy from 30 years ago and it's still in decent, readable, playable shape.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Dave I see you've gone with easier to spell Oxford college names after that mistake last time left you feeling maudlin

    ReplyDelete
  3. I sent my money so the book should be on its way to me soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you enjoy it, John - despite the lack of FL elements!

      Delete
  4. I liked it the first time. Did you do anything as far as switching the items around a bit so that visiting the mansion early in the game wasn't totally necessary for victory?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like I said, John, the only changes are a couple of the monster names. Otherwise it's the original version.

      Delete
    2. I notice you did make a couple of other changes. You increased the number of dice rolled for Vigour by 1 (rolling 3d6 + 20 instead of 2d6 + 20). You also made Dagger of the Mind cause 3 Vigour damage instead of 2 - which makes it useful in Combat, giving the equivalent of a "free hit."

      Delete
    3. Oh yes - and in fact I have you to thank for that second suggestion, John! Next time I revise the file, I'll try and remember to include an acknowledgement.

      Delete
    4. And btw I'm hoping not to have to revise the edition for a while, but I've got used to readers being my copy editors, and I'm sure it won't be long before somebody points out an error.

      Delete
    5. Has there been a revision on The Castle of Lost Souls? It's missing the picture of the way that the arrows are arranged.

      Delete
    6. It is? I'll have to look into that.

      Delete
    7. Oh, I mean: it is! Because almost all the illustrations are missing from that one. I'm going to see if I can fit it in somehow...

      Delete
    8. The other illustrations I can pretty well live without, but seeing the arrow diagram is pretty critical to solving the endless maze that comes next.

      Delete
  5. That's cool. Like you said, the people wanting things are mostly those who want to complete (or, in my case, recomplete) their Golden Dragon collect.

    Speaking of that, have you considered turning The Island of Illusion into a full length book?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Island of Illusion was on the blog a few years back, John, but I don't think it has the scope to be a full book. I guess I could have repurposed some of it for the new Keep of the Lich Lord, come to think, but too late now.

      Delete
    2. And if anybody out there wants to take a look at the aforementioned Island of Illusion, you can find it here:

      http://fabledlands.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/island-of-illusions.html

      It's just a quick throwaway adventure that Oliver did to help publicize the Golden Dragon series, but is of some interest because Leo's accompanying illustration was the inspiration for the Rathurbosk bridge in Legend.

      Delete
  6. I won't gush on about how good I think this book was/is, Dave. I know you don't appreciate the flattery! Read my old copy this afternoon and it is timeless. Good to see it back in print anyway.

    Bit of an aside, I do love most of the 80s John Carpenter films. Big Trouble In Little China and They Live especially. I can feel the need for a wall to wall viewing session tonight!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John Carpenter night? Don't forget The Thing, Andy. In fact, lay on some beers and a pizza and I might join you.

      Delete
  7. Perhaps you should have changed the title of this one to 'Dagon Warriors'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, you're on form, John. I feel like the guy in Deliverance whose guitar string breaks!

      Delete
    2. If that is a reference to Billy Redden the banjo boy next appearing in Tim Burton's film Big Fish then I accept that as a Critical Hit & you definitely win this round !

      Delete
    3. I was thinking more of the Ronnie Cox character, who couldn't keep up, but my usually total recall of movies was faulty ;-)

      Delete
  8. The Thing would definitely be the one to make up the treble bill, Dave. Funnily enough, the pepperoni is in the oven and the Singha beers are in the fridge (completely agree with Jamie on that issue). Unfortunately my wife has voted against and apparently you don't get a vote. Her vote is casting so it looks like Minions night again. All seems very undemocratic. I really ought to get a DVD player for the games room.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Singha beer - now you're talkin', that's one that Jamie got from me. It must of course be ice cold - which will go with the Antarctic setting, if and when you finally get that JC night. (Tip: encourage your wife to write a novel, then you'll have lots of free evenings. It worked for me.)

      Delete
  9. I never thought Peroni could be trumped. We have an annual lads weekend in Spain which involves a film night. It's a running joke that my yearly choice is Big Trouble, which my mates hate. Still, my house, my rules! Now, what was I saying about democracy?! I do intend reading your wife's novel. Your recommendation of "But That's A Detail" was spot on, so I'll assume there's no nepotism going on!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They don't get Big Trouble? New mates needed!

      Delete
  10. One of them chooses Mad Max 2 most years, so I'll tolerate their ignorance a bit longer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's one I haven't seen in far too long. It's time for an '80s movie evening chez Morris, methinks.

      Delete
    2. Throw in Aliens and Blade Runner whilst you're about it!

      Delete
    3. Tbh I'd rather have Alien and Blade Runner. And Terminator while I'm about it.

      Delete
    4. Classics that always get shortlisted. Dare I say Robocop and Predator too. If you're extending the scope to 70s, I'll go back a little further with 2001, although I almost got lynched after showing that.

      Delete
    5. In that case I'd be tempted to push it a little further back still and include First Men in the Moon, which I have a particular fondness for because of Lionel Jeffries's performance as Cavor. But perhaps we should stick to one decade per movie night, after all.

      Delete
    6. That's a new one on me. I'll be sure to take that as this year's wild card.

      Delete
    7. The spaceship is great, the Edwardian manners not quite straying over into send-up, and it has a serious Wellsian message. Oh, and Harryhausen animation. Sold yet?

      Delete
    8. You had me at spaceship! Wells and Harryhausen icing on the cake. I'll be giving myself a sneak preview shortly ahead of the main event. Will divert the lynch mob to you as necessary! I'd like to offer you something from the 50s, or at least obscure, in return. Struggling! I also treated myself to My Memories of a Future Life and Lifeform Three whilst I was in random buying mode!

      Delete
    9. There must be some classics from back then. Admittedly I haven't seen This Island Earth or The Day The Earth Stood Still or Forbidden Planet in decades. Hope you like the wife's books. Lifeform Three would make a pretty good art house scifi movie, I think.

      Delete
    10. Oh, here's an interesting one: Seconds, with Rock Hudson, from the mid-60s. Alienation with a light touch of SF. Still quite disturbing, and be sure to watch the excellent Kim Newman review on the extras.

      Delete
    11. Will give those a whirl, Dave. Not heard of two, can't remember having seen the other two. A few that stick in the memory are X:The Man With The X-Ray Eyes and Clonus. Not classics and leaning more towards horror, but a little eerie nevertheless (cheesy 70s eerie in the latter case).

      Delete
    12. Another two in that vein are The Forbin Project and The Hellstrom Chronicle. It's been many years since I saw either, so I don't know whether they are really any good or simply seemed so through the lens of youth. But - my goodness, we have enough for an entire film festival now.

      Delete
    13. We just need to ensure 2001 goes on last and we don't crack open the Chablis until after the interlude, otherwise it'll be goodnight before HAL has his wobble! Another few for my order list then, albeit will need a new DVD player for Hellstrom. Remembered Stephen King's Danse Macabre had a list of his favourite books and films from 50s to 80s that's quite a good guide, albeit read more of those than I've watched. First Men On The Moon came early so is tonight's feature. One of your wife's books fell open at a page with, "Your an idiot, you're all idiots!" I didn't realise she'd been on one my film nights. Hope that quote wasn't copyright infringement by the way!

      Delete
    14. Although having re read the bit of the book referred to and the above, your wife/Roz/Mrs Morris, may well sue me for misquoting and spelling/punctuation error.

      Delete
    15. Oh boy, I'm not even going to tell her about the spelling and punctuation there, Andy. She's a paid-up grammar Obersturmführer, let's leave it at that.

      Delete
    16. Good man. Fivers' in the poast:

      Delete
    17. Hi Dave. Wouldn't usually continue a thread past its normal shelf life, but just to say much enjoyed FMITM (viewing was delayed a few nights). I could mention a dozen films/shows that poaches some imagery off it. Some cracking comedic lines also! Not one for my film night though. The attention span isn't there.

      Also, Lifeform Three is seriously good. The trick, as ever, is to ensure the reader gives a monkeys (lifeform number unknown) about the protagonist. You must be very proud. I'll check my bank balance to see if I've a spare £30 million for your film.

      Delete
    18. 30 quid would be an immeasurable boost to the movie finances, tbh. Glad you like the book, Andy. Roz is currently finishing up on her next, called Ever Rest.

      Delete
    19. Will look forward to reading that and her first.

      Delete
  11. I'd love to buy a gamebook by you set in Tekumel!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been a long-cherished dream of mine to write one, Andreas. I actually did ask Prof Barker's permission to do so, back in the late '80s, and he was fine with it, but contractual negotiations with whoever published the Tekumel games at the time dragged on too long. Alas! Imagine if the Fabled Lands series had been set in Tsolyanu, Livyanu, etc.

      Delete
    2. There is actually an Tekumel-based Gamebook App, called "Choice of the Petal Throne"! I neither read it nor do I have had any real contact with Barker's universe, so I can't tell if the App transports the original atmosphere, stays true to the setting, etc., but apparently there is a way to get a permission.

      https://www.choiceofgames.com/petal-throne/#utm_medium=web&utm_source=ourgames

      Delete
    3. Indeed. The Tekumel Foundation (https://blog.tekumelfoundation.org/2016/01/05/plans-for-2016/) seems to invite request, and there's a contact address in the blog post linked.

      Delete
    4. I don't know anything about the Choice of Games app, but Prof Barker's own Adventures On Tekumel series are solo gamebooks, so I'd recommend starting there. And at some point maybe I'll get the back issues of The Eye of All-Seeing Wonder back in print, along with my Tirikelu rules, though all the material is available anyway on Tekumel.com

      Delete
  12. I know you considered changing up the chummy opening in the book but I kind of liked it. In books 2,3,5 and 6 you play a person who knows he's on a desperately important quest and enters into it willingly. This book reminds me more of Crypt of the Vampire, where you start as just a dude trying to get in out of the rain.

    Here is a classic "cakewalk" adventure. The so-called easy, simple favor that blows up into a hellishly dangerous undertaking and the book works well on that level.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly would never change the opening of Crypt of the Vampire, John. In EotD I figure that the apparent chumminess must mask the High Council's real feelings about having to deal with a powerful mage. I once remarked to a friend of mine who worked in publishing how I liked finishing a book and taking it into the publisher because everyone there was so friendly, treating me to lunch and so forth. He said: "I have news for you. Publishers loathe and fear writers. You create the stuff on which our whole careers are based, yet you aren't employees and you're outside our control. Think about it." So I reckon the smiles and pleasantries of the High Council are just like that.

      Delete